Comments on: Install Windows 7 on Dell Mini 9 (USB)

By: rickatnight11

rickatnight11 — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:17:59 +0000

Hey, JaimeZX. Yeah, alternatives have arisen since posting this guide. Thanks for the info! It’s nice that MS put out their own tool. Alternatively you can use WinToFlash. It’s a lot less restrictive and works with most Windows OSes.

By: JaimeZX

JaimeZX — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:14:37 +0000

Darnit – one note: when building the ISO, make sure the disk name is the same as the name of your original ISO, and make sure the filesystem is UDF.

By: JaimeZX

JaimeZX — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:11:54 +0000

This was TREMENDOUSLY helpful.

Note: The first part (setting up the USB drive) will not work if you are using Windows XP.

To get around this, skip step 1 and to the vLite portion. When finished, you need to put all of the resulting files into an ISO rather than just copying them onto a thumbdrive.

Then download and install this utility from MS:
http://store.microsoft.com/Help/ISO-Tool

Choose the ISO you just created and then when prompted, select the thumbdrive of your choice. The utility will make a bootable thumbdrive with your custom version of 7.

Good luck!

By: rickatnight11

rickatnight11 — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 04:14:50 +0000

I’m not sure what you mean by “accept the key”. If you are talking about using your XP serial with Window 7, you can’t.

By: Spectelrabs

Spectelrabs — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 23:25:23 +0000

I’d like to do this with a Win 7 upgrade version. Since this is a complete install to a newly partitioned drive, how can I get Microsoft to accept the key? The Mini has XP on it now, but didn’t come with a disk.

By: rickatnight11

rickatnight11 — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:22:53 +0000

There’s no harm in trying is there? It will either work, or it won’t. If it does, you save some time. If it doesn’t, you’ll just need to download the full WAIK.

By: Que

Que — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:20:59 +0000

I saw this comment on a forum you were on: “I found during my Windows 7 installation that you can use the newest version of vLite. The program only needs one file from the WAIK to work properly, and it’s a lot easier than downloading the entire kit. Just Google ‘wimgapi.dll’ and download it. If you then copy ‘wimgapi.dll’ into vLite’s root folder, the program will run perfectly.” , should I do it?

By: Que

Que — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:18:07 +0000

Nevermind about the .pdf version (I figured it out) but please still let me know about any tips, tricks or updates I should know about. Thanks.

By: rickatnight11

rickatnight11 — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:16:52 +0000

The process should actually just be the same, and there’s really nothing to mess up. If it doesn’t work, you start over and try again! Good luck!

By: Que

Que — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:13:01 +0000

Hi, I just got my 32 GB SSD in the mail for my Dell Mini 9 and would like to install Windows 7 Ultimate on it. I have the Windows disk and 8gb flash drive. I see alot of updates and coments to you guide on how to make it better or to cut out some steps. My plan is to save as much space as possible so I am going to use vlite. Do you have an update guide? If so could you email it to me (or email me a .pdf vrsion of your guide as the one on this site is hard to see) along with any tips I may need? This is the first time I am doing something like this and I’m scared to death of destorying something. Thanks for your help.